“Homicide” is not necessarily a crime. Anytime a person’s death is caused by another person(s), there is a homicide. Non-criminal homicides are common and include: accidental deaths, suicides, and deaths following lawful exercise of self-defense rights. These can also be uncovered in a murder defense case.

Murder Defense Lawyers must prepare the accused and his or her family and supporters to mount the best defense possible, since the consequences of a conviction are severe. Thomas Gallagher, as a murder lawyer, works to collect factual information, from police and from defense investigators; then analyzes the known facts of the case to determine the best available defense theory that fits the facts. (Contrary to this process of a good homicide defense attorney, the government’s prosecuting attorneys will do the opposite – seek the most damning theory of guilt that selected, alleged facts in the case can possibly support.)

Whether acting as a Manslaughter Lawyer, Murder Defense Lawyer, or other Homicide Attorney, Thomas Gallagher works relentlessly to uncover the truth, and defend the liberty and name of the People he represents. Defending a person is a great responsibility – one that Gallagher takes seriously. Murder Lawyers handle the most serious type of criminal case and must have adequate resources to marshal the best legal defense.

Homicide legal, criminal charges in Minnesota include:

Murder First Degree, Minnesota Statutes §609.185, generally:
· Life sentence if convicted.
· Premeditated murder with specific intent, or
· murder while committing certain, listed other crimes, or
· murder of on-duty police officer or prison guard with specific intent, or
· extreme indifference causing death of a minor where past pattern of child abuse, or
· extreme indifference causing death of another where past pattern of domestic abuse.

Manslaughter First Degree, Minnesota Statutes §609.20, generally:
· causing death in the heat of passion following qualified provocation, or
· misdemeanor assault plus reasonably foreseeable death or great bodily harm, or
· causing death coerced by threats of imminent death by a non-co-conspirator, or
· causing death via certain drugs, or
· malicious punishment of a child plus death.

Manslaughter Second Degree, Minnesota Statutes §609.205, generally:
· death caused by culpable negligence plus specific intent of risk of death or great bodily harm, or
· death by shooting a gun or other weapon negligently believing the other to be a deer or animal, or
· death by setting spring gun, pit fall, snare, trap, etc, or
· death by negligently or intentionally permitting dangerous animal to run uncontrolled off premises or unconfined, etc.

Criminal Vehicular Homicide and Injury, Minnesota Statutes §609.21, generally:
· Injury or Death of another, and:
· As a result of operating a motor vehicle:
· Gross Negligence, or
· Simple Negligence plus DWI or Hit-and-Run.

Have a question about a criminal homicide case or investigation? The sooner you get help from a defense attorney the better. You can call homicide defense lawyer Thomas Gallagher at (612) 333-1500.